AMMAN — Jordanians welcomed a plan by the
Social Security Corporation
(SSC) for setting up an escrow-like account to help qualified beneficiary
parents pay for the college tuition of their children, while earning pensions.
اضافة اعلان
But some of the
parents voiced concern that the plan may be marred by bureaucracy, or that it
may not get off the ground in the first place.
SSC spokesperson
Shaman Al-Majali said the account which will be called Hisab Al-Takaful
Alijtimai, Arabic for the social solidarity Account, is part of the proposed
amendments to the Social Security Law, which will be debated in the Lower House
soon.
The purpose, he
added, was to help SSC beneficiaries who qualify for the program to cover of
their children’s university expenses. He said certain conditions, which will be
announced when the Social Security bill is enacted, apply.
“Takaful will
particularly assist those who reach the retirement age and have not completed
the number of contributions required, and are unable to buy the remaining
period, to pay for their children’s education while receiving their pension to
ensure a decent living,” Majali told
Jordan News.
He explained
that JD1 will be levied from each insured person or pensioner, with the
remainder coming from the donors and funds.
Majali said that
SSC has emerged from its traditional role to support beneficiaries through such
programs, such as education. He said participation in the account will be
compulsory, and noted that instructions will be issued once the law goes into
effect.
Public sector
employee Amal Al-Hadid said that the proposal is a “great idea”.
“The costs of
university tuition and other expenses are a huge burden on parents because higher
education is too expensive,” Hadid told
Jordan News.
“But I am afraid
it will not bring the desired benefit,” she said. “I hope that the program will
be implemented fairly and transparently, and that the conditions will be clear
to all.”
Another employee,
Mohammed Al-Daradkeh, said the Social Solidarity Account will support many
people because higher education is expensive, and “is a burden, especially for
low-income Jordanians”.
Daradkeh told
Jordan
News that the fee to be levied from beneficiaries is affordable, and “if
the plan is carried out, parents will ensure a good future to their children.”
Mousa
Al-Subaihi, an insurance and social protection expert, told
Jordan News that establishing a Takaful account in the manner proposed is a “hasty idea”,
which is inconsistent with the Social Security Law and the nature and functions
of SSC because it is based on contributions matched by donations.
“This proposal
needs an in-depth study in all its aspects, to figure its social and financial
implications,” he said. “I am not in favor of charging the retired and the
contributor with new deductions for the Takaful account.”
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